Mail-box.



Patented May 13, I902.

D. B. CRAFTS.

MAIL BOX.

(Application filed. Mar. 3, 1902.)

ummimm (No Model.)

wihwaoeo v I i ATENT FFICE,

DARWIN B. CRAFTS, OF RAPIDS, OHIO.

MAIL-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent NO. 699,746, dated. May 13, 1902. Application filed March 3, 1902. Serial No. 96,431. (lilo model) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DARWIN 13. CRAFTS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rapids, in the county of Portage and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Boxes; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention-relates to improvements in mailboxes of the character more particularly designed for rural free-delivery service.

The object of the invention is to provide a mailbox of this character which is automatically opened and closed by a tilting motion of the box upon its support, the construction being such that when the box is drawn forward it will open and remain open, leaving both hands of the carrier free to remove the outgoing and deposit the incoming mail, after which operation a backward movement of the box under a gentle push or thrust causes it to resume its normal position and close, thereby enabling the carrier to collect and deposit the mail with ease and celerity.

A further object of the invention is to provide a signal which is set by the box user to indicate that mail has been deposited therein.

With these and other objects in view, which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in certain features of construction and combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described, defined in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the box closed and also showing in full and broken lines the respective positions of the signal for indicating that the box contains outgoing and delivered mail-matter. Fig. 2 is a similar View of the box when opened for the insertion or removal of mail-matter. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the box with parts arranged as in Fig. 2. Fig. 4; is'a front to rear section of the same.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 represents a base, from which rises a post or standard 2, carrying a cross-bar 3, upon which is pivotally mounted a tilting frame or support el, composed of side arms connected at their upper ends by a cross-bar 5, upon which is mounted a box 6, which box is provided with a hinged or pivoted cover 7 and an operating-handle 8.

Projecting rearwardly from the post or standard 2 is an arm 9, to which is connected the lower end of a link 10, which is connected in turn at its upper end to an arm 11, projecting rearwardly from the cover 7. lhis arm 11 carries a stop lug or projection 12,

whichlimits the forward tilting movement of the box and carries a pivot pin or bolt 13, upon which is pivotally mounted a signal 14'.- The signal 14 consists of a counterweighted arm provided with a lug or footpiece 15, which is adapted to rest upon the upper surface of the cover 7 when said signal is set to indicate that the box contains mail-matter which is to be removed therefrom by the carrier. A pin or projection 16, carried by the link 10, is provided for supporting the signal-arm when the latter is retracted and is in the position to indicate that mail-matter has been deposited in the box bythe carrier.

The normal position of the parts when the box is set for the collection and delivery of mail-matter is shown in Fig. 1, from which it will be seen that the box is tilted back on its supporting-frame 1 to a substantially horizontal position beyond the center or beyond the Vertical plane of the post or standard 2 and that the hinged door 7 is closed and the signal 14 set, with its lug or footpiece 15 resting upon said cover to indicate that mail has been deposited within the box for collection by the carrier. The carrier upon reaching the box grasps hold of the handle 8 and draws the box forwardly to the position shown in Fig. 2,'in which the box is thrown forward of the vertical'line of the standard 2 and the cover is thrown open, so as to permit of the removal of the outgoing mail from the box and the insertion of the incoming mail there in. When the box is thus drawn forwardly, the cover 7 is caused to tilt upwardly on its hinges or pivots, and when it reaches a prescribed position the sigual-arm 14 drops back rearwardly by gravity and contacts with the pin 16, which supports it in its retracted position. The weight of the box normally causes it when so drawn forwardly to remain open, so that both hands of the carrier are left free to insert and remove the mail. If desired, the cover 7 may be provided on its under side with one or more clips 17 to hold letters or other mail-matter or coin designed for the prepayment of postage. After the outgoing mail has been removed and the incoming mail deposited, the carrier pushes or thrusts the box rearwardly, causing it to tilt back on its supporting-frame 4: and again assume the position shown in Fig. 1, in which the cover 7 is closed and the trip-arm 1 L is retracted and rests upon the pin 16, thus indicating that the outgoing mail deposited within the box has been removed'or that the carrier has inserted mail-matter addressed to the box user. When outgoing mail-matter is inserted in the box for collection by the carrier, the signal 14 is thrown forwardly to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, so as to give signal to the carrier to stop and collect the outgoing mail in the event that he is not required to stop for depositing mailmatter addressed to the box user.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought that the construction, mode of operation, and advantages of my improved mail-box will be readily apparent without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the prin ciple or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a mail-box of the character described, the combination with a. suitable base; of a tilting frame or support, a box carried by the support, a cover for the box, and means for 2. In a mail-box, the combination with a suitable base; of a tilting frame or support, a box carried thereby, ahinged or pivoted cover for the box, and connections between the cover and base for automatically opening or closing said cover upon the forward or backward tilting of the box on said support, substantially as specified.

3. In a mail-box of the character described, the combination of a base-support provided with a rearwardly-extending arm, a tilting frame mounted upon said support, a box carried by the frame, a hinged or pivoted cover for the box, an arm projecting rearwardly therefrom, a link connecting the arms of the support and cover, whereby when the box is moved forwardly or rearwardly on its tilting frame, the cover is automatically opened or closed, substantially as specified.

4. In a mail-box of the character described, the combination of a base-support, a tilting frame mounted thereon, a box carried by the frame, a hinged or pivoted cover for the box,

a linkconnection between the support and cover for automatically opening and closing the cover upon the forward and backward swinging of the box upon' its tilting frame, and a signal adapted when in one position to rest upon the box-cover, and in its other position to be supported by the link, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

DA'RVVIN B. CRAFTS.

WVitnesses:

G. A. BROOKET, FRANO COURT.- 

